Launched November 2, 2007 Slogan Let's see it Here! Language English Headquarters Edmonton, Canada | Owned by Allarco Entertainment Country Canada Founded 2007 Motto Let's see it Here! | |
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Picture format 1080i (HDTV)
480i (SDTV) TV shows When Calls the Heart, Slasher, Tiny Plastic Men, Olympus, Darknet Profiles | ||
Super Channel is a Canadian English language Category A premium cable and satellite television channel that is owned by Charles and Peter Allard through Allarco Entertainment 2008 Inc. Super Channel's programming primarily includes theatrically released, first to television motion pictures and television series, along with documentaries and other niche programs. All programming is unedited and commercial free.
Contents
- History
- List of channels
- Super Channel HD
- Super Channel On Demand
- Programming
- List of programs broadcast by Super Channel
- Canadian Originals
- References
The current Super Channel service was launched in 2007, and is not affiliated with the two pre-existing English-language premium channels which used the name at various times prior to 2001, which were later known as Movie Central (in Western Canada; defunct since March 2016) and The Movie Network (in Eastern Canada, and operating nationally since March 2016). The Allards were the original owners of what was last known as Movie Central, and later re-acquired rights to the Superchannel trademark. Prior to 2016, Super Channel was the first and only general-interest English-language pay television service authorized to operate nationally. (Officially, Family Channel and its multiplex channel Family Junior are also national pay television channels, but those services operate as de facto basic tier specialty channels in most areas and on some providers.)
Super Channel is available on nearly all major cable and satellite providers including Telus Optik TV, Bell TV, Shaw Direct, Access Communications, Cogeco, Rogers Cable, Shaw Cable, Eastlink and other providers. Super Channel was granted as a "must carry" service by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC), meaning all television service providers must carry the service on their systems.
History
Allarco was one of four applicants for new pay television licences that were considered at a public hearing held by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission on October 24, 2005. Its competing applicants were:
The Allarco application was approved on May 18, 2006, while the other three applicants were rejected.
The Allard family were also the original owners of Movie Central, which during their stewardship until 2001 was known as "Superchannel", rendered as a single word title unlike the current service (for a time in the 1980s, First Choice (now The Movie Network) had also used the "Superchannel" name under a co-branding agreement). The "Movie Central" name was adopted shortly after Corus Entertainment acquired the service, but Corus maintained ownership of the "Superchannel" trademark. Just before the new channel's launch, the Allards re-acquired the rights to the "Superchannel" name under undisclosed terms.
Super Channel was launched on November 2, 2007 on Bell TV as a six-channel service.
Super Channel's parent company, Allarco Entertainment, entered into the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act on June 18, 2009. On August 31, 2010, its creditors unanimously approved a restructuring plan for the company under the act. The restructuring plan, which needed approval of the court, was later approved.
On February 15, 2017, it was announced that Ginx TV would launch a linear gaming channel in Canada as a replacement for one of Super Channel's multiplex channels. On February 22, 2017, Super Channel announced it had acquired the Canadian broadcast rights to the Legends Football League, as part of a three-year deal in which Super Channel will be the exclusive Canadian broadcaster of all LFL games through the 2019 season. The LFL will be used to launch the "Super Channel SPORTS" sub-brand that will be used for all sporting events and sports-themed programming. Super Channel 1 will debut LFL Football Night on April 22, 2017.
List of channels
Depending on the service provider, Super Channel provides up to eight multiplex channels – four 24-hour multiplex channels, all of which are simulcast in both standard definition and high definition – as well as a subscription video-on-demand service (Super Channel On Demand). Super Channel broadcasts its primary channel and multiplex channels on an Eastern Time Zone schedule, operating a singular feed for all channels, this results in the difference in local airtimes for a particular movie or program between two geographic locations being three hours at most.
Super Channel HD
Super Channel HD is a high definition simulcast feed of Super Channel that broadcasts in the 1080i resolution format. In addition to its main channel, Super Channel also operates high definition simulcast feeds of all three multiplex channels. Initially, Allarco launched two high definition feeds upon the launch of the service in November 2007: Super Channel HD 1 and Super Channel HD 2. Super Channel HD 1 simulcasted the standard definition feed of the same name, while Super Channel HD 2 initially aired programming from the three remaining SD feeds. In February 2013, Allarco launched HD feeds for the two remaining channels, Super Channel 3 and Super Channel 4, with each HD channel now simulcasting their standard definition equivalent.
Super Channel On Demand
Super Channel operates a subscription video-on-demand television service called Super Channel On Demand, which is available at no additional charge to new and existing subscribers of Super Channel. Content featured on the service includes movies, acquired foreign series and special features previously seen on the linear television network. Super Channel On Demand's rotating program selection incorporates select new titles that are added daily to existing content. Super Channel On Demand launched in February 2008, on Cogeco Cable systems in Ontario. It is available nationally by satellite providers Shaw Direct and Bell TV, and regionally by cable providers Rogers Cable, Access Communications, Cogeco, Novus, Shaw Cable, Westman Communications, Source Cable, Eastlink and Vidéotron, and IPTV providers Telus TV, Bell Aliant TV, Bell Fibe TV, MTS TV and SaskTel.
Programming
Super Channel has positioned itself as a complementary service to currently, The Movie Network and, formerly, Movie Central. The channel offers a diverse selection of television series, theatrically released and first to television movies and niche programming. Its lineup includes various top American and Canadian series as well as international series, primarily from the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Programming has also included critically acclaimed documentaries, concerts, and foreign films.
List of programs broadcast by Super Channel
Includes current and past programming.